BSB leader Glenn Irwin believes new Ducati BeerMonster team ‘capable of winning the title’ as he prepares for Donington

Bennetts British Superbike Championship leader Glenn Irwin hopes to stretch his lead at the top of the standings at Donington Park this weekend.

The BeerMonster Ducati rider is four points clear after the first two rounds, and he won at both Silverstone and Oulton Park.

He is looking for more success with his PBM Team, saying: “Oulton Park seems like a few weeks ago now, it was nice to leave there on a high and I feel in a great moment; the team are working fantastic.

“I have been speaking to the team manager, Johnny Mowatt over the past few days on how great it is at the moment and how well everyone is working. The atmosphere, [morale] and passion is really, really high – that is so refreshing. It’s a big part of our success so far this year I think; the group of lads is absolutely spot on.

“It helps when you have a great motorbike and it is what you need to win a British Championship. We have seen last year the Yamaha was dominant, but I think this year we clearly have a package that is capable of winning the title, although we can’t turn this into talking about that this early in the season. But you know when you know, and I know that we have the team and the package to potentially fight for the title at the end of the year.

“It is kind of nice going to Donington Park as it kind of feels like we are going to a new track, now it has been resurfaced. We skipped the test there, but I don’t feel like we missed anything because of the weather they had, so I think when you are in a good moment, whether we tested there or we didn’t, when the whole team are in the same headspace it doesn’t really matter.”

Irwin welcomed the success of and competition provided by his new team-mate, Tommy Bridewell.

He continued: “I am looking forward to it and I am excited to ride the new Donington Park with the new tarmac as it is one of my favourite tracks on the calendar and one where I have had success in the past. One of my best moments came there last year, when we completed the race with one footpeg and I was fighting at the time with my new team-mate Tommy Bridewell so I have great memories of it.

“Tommy is clearly doing a great job as well and there are only a couple of points between us at the top of the championship. For me he is the perfect team-mate because he has so much experience on the Ducati, so I couldn’t ask for a better team-mate. I can tap into that and he is also a multiple race winner and probably my closest championship challenger.

“We have great dynamics in the team at the moment so I am enjoying it and roll on Donington Park this weekend.”